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choosing which Windows to buy

Just noticed this forum here and thought I'd seek some info.

I am responsible for the local volunteer firehouse computers. Two at the moment. And both need replacement.

In my role as administrator I have to setup several users (approx. 8-10) on each one. The last one was a couple of years ago and introduced me to W10. What a pia that was for a guy who was perfectly happy with W7 and before that XP (!!!). The main problem here that I am concerned about is that individual users could modify profiles that affected all of the other users, such as display settings, desktops, background images and in general made each login a surprise.

Which version of Windows should I specify on my upcoming purchase? I would like to create a user profile that all users could be assigned when they first login and then modify to their own preferences without affecting any or all of the other users. I used to deal with this kind of stuff before I retired nine years ago but I am so out of touch with it now that I need a little pointer from those who are up on this stuff. And for those who want to point me in any direction that doesn't begin with a "W", well that's just not feasible. Basically I have a small 'Enterprise' going on at the firehouse and I need something similar to what M$ used to call their 'Enterprise' editions.

Thanks in advance!

JGPS - If you're posting here you should be using:

error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', '1');
at the top of ALL php code while you develop it!

Linux Or add finger print readers as the only key to access user accounts, these things are very cheap now, one per machine, that would only allow registered users to access the system and no hacking others accounts as easily because the person would need to be present to unlock their machine and any changes would show who did what and when.

That is not the concern that I have. It is the ability for registered users to change things that other users have customized for their use. Such as background desktop screens, desktop layouts, browser settings. The people using the machine have their own credentials but I need to keep them from accessing other's "stuff". Currently their documents are protected from others since they each have their own document tree naturally. It's the other things that are annoying, especially when they change things that I have previously chosen not to set for them.

JGPS - If you're posting here you should be using:

error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', '1');
at the top of ALL php code while you develop it!

That is not the concern that I have. It is the ability for registered users to change things that other users have customized for their use. Such as background desktop screens, desktop layouts, browser settings. The people using the machine have their own credentials but I need to keep them from accessing other's "stuff". Currently their documents are protected from others since they each have their own document tree naturally. It's the other things that are annoying, especially when they change things that I have previously chosen not to set for them.

(If this post shows up twice it is because I got a message saying "database error" when I first posted it.

JGPS - If you're posting here you should be using:

error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', '1');
at the top of ALL php code while you develop it!

Not my area of expertise at all, but I *think* Windoze users can be defined to not have "admin" privileges, in which case those sorts of config changes should be saved under their user directory and only apply when they are logged in. Only a user with "admin" privileges should have access to global config settings.

I believe that used to be true, but not sure since I never had multiple users to deal with. Currently with W10 I can setup the individual users but they can make changes to their settings which seem to bleed over to other users. And - I am the only admin user.

go figure!

I'm guessing that you and I are the only people who have an interest in this forum.

JGPS - If you're posting here you should be using:

error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', '1');
at the top of ALL php code while you develop it!

Here, here. The site is definitely difficult to work with. Some company that bought it. Sounds more like a "startup" than a full-fledged company considering the pace of the resolution...

I wonder what the interest is for a commercial enterprise to purchase a site like this. Where's the return? It's great for the previous owners who made a buck off of their work, but how are the new guys going make their investment back?

JGPS - If you're posting here you should be using:

error_reporting(E_ALL);
ini_set('display_errors', '1');
at the top of ALL php code while you develop it!